Essential Tips for Cat Hairball Pet Owners - Keep Your

Why Do Cats Have Hairballs?

Cats are constantly grooming themselves, and the bristles on their tongues can pull loose fur into their stomachs.

1) Cleaning Away Dust and Reducing Matting

One of the reasons cats groom so frequently is to remove dust from their fur and prevent it from matting together.

2) Stress Relief

Additionally, grooming can be a way for cats to manage stress and maintain their coat in good condition.

How Cats Eliminate Hairballs on Their Own

Typically, the fur that cats ingest will pass through their digestive system and be excreted in their feces. However, when a significant amount of fur accumulates, cats may induce vomiting to expel the fur. This usually results in a vomit that contains a ball of fur, often accompanied by some liquid.

Preventing Hairballs in Cats

1) Regular Grooming to Reduce Hair Intake

During shedding seasons, especially in the summer, it's important to help your cat by grooming them more frequently. This helps remove excess loose fur, significantly reducing the amount of hair they might ingest while grooming.

2) Cat Grass to Enhance Hair Elimination

Cat grass isn't a single type of grass but rather a general term for the grasses that cats enjoy eating. Common varieties include wheat, barley, and oat seedlings, as well as plants like dock grass and white grass. The plant fibers in cat grass can aid in the elimination of fur from a cat's digestive tract.

Each cat may have varying preferences for different types of cat grass, so it's best to experiment. If your cat loves cat grass, be cautious as eating too much at once can lead to digestive issues. It's advisable for pet owners to control the amount their cats consume.

Recommended for hairball prevention, cat grass is a natural and safe plantbased option.

3) Hairball Lube to Aid in Hair Elimination

Hairball lube is not about melting the fur but rather adding lubricating substances (like glycerin) to help the fur pass through the cat's digestive system. It's usually a syrup with attractants and nutrients that parents should feed to their cats in moderation.